by anouk shin
The St. Mark’s handbook has contained a lengthy description of the dress code for years, a paragraph new students are shocked by as they prepare for school as a freshman. Many change their wardrobe completely, buying new clothes to adhere to the extensive rules, while others avoid such lengths and simply hope they aren’t “dress-coded” in the hallway. Either way, St. Mark’s’ ‘only-bookstore-hoodies-business-casual’ dress code has been a long controversial topic in the community, between both students and teachers. And now, with a new school year and debate on school dress among faculty, it’s time to find out what new (and old) St. Markers really think about dress code.
There seem to be two common points about the dress code students feel the need to change: the prohibition of blue jeans and non-St. Mark’s hoodies.
“It’s not too bad, but there are things I think aren’t necessary, like the blue jeans,” says Vivi Tran ‘26, “I also understand that we’re not allowed to wear graphic T-shirts, but I don’t understand why we can’t wear non-St. Mark’s hoodies and sweatshirts.”
Kat Garland ‘27 carries the same sentiment, “I would change sweatshirts. As long as the sweatshirts aren’t too ‘unprofessional’ I think it’s fine. I mean, I see people wearing regular sweatshirts already.”
“I would like there to be blue jeans, I don’t see a problem with it,” adds Meigs Dorsheimer ‘27. The students around her mutter in agreement, commenting on the fact that, while ripped jeans could be considered inappropriate, prohibiting regular blue jeans is a rule hard to accept.
However, blue jeans go much deeper than a preferred fashion choice among students. According to Lori Cui ‘25, not allowing blue jeans is even inherently classist: “The working-class typically wore blue jeans throughout history,” she says, “and there are working-class families at St. Mark’s.” The strict rule on blue jeans may give the impression that families in the working class are not welcomed or seen as equal to upper-middle and middle classes in St. Mark’s.
But blue jeans aside, St. Markers seem to be very aware of why the dress code needs to be in place, even if they disagree with certain aspects of the guidelines.
“We can’t just show up to school wearing something too inappropriate or casual. This is a nice school, and we should be ready for the school day,” Paige Mattson ‘27 states. Judy Xu ‘26 similarly notes that a dress code should be in place to prevent unprofessional attire. Lori Cui ‘25 acknowledges that “dressing for a setting makes you more inclined to behave properly in that setting.”
The dress code is a tradition St. Mark’s has endorsed for decades. However, with time comes new students, new understandings, and a questioning of traditions. St. Mark’s is in the middle of this questioning period, where the community comes together to find a middle ground. And hopefully, through amendments and discussion, we will finally be able to crack the dress code.